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Doctor Who: The Stones of Blood
The Doctor is delighted when his quest for the Key to Time leads him to his favourite planet, Earth. But his friends are less enchanted: Romana is nearly lured to her death by a sinister apparition, and K9 is all but destroyed by a belligerent boulder with the power to move - and a thirst for blood.
An ancient stone circle becomes a battleground as the Doctor must outwit the deadliest alien criminal this side of hyperspace - and her bloodthirsty silicon servants...
An ancient stone circle becomes a battleground as the Doctor must outwit the deadliest alien criminal this side of hyperspace - and her bloodthirsty silicon servants...
195 pages, Paperback
Published October 4, 2022
3 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
David Fisher
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 18, 2023
Whilst Target book novelization's were a way for fans to enjoy stories before DVDs and streaming were even thought about in the mid-70s, it's nice that a fondness for these books has seen the range continue today.
Fishers new version of the part gophic/part Sci-Fi instalment in the series arc quest for the Key to Time arc greatly extends much of the character's backstory compared to Dick's original slim offering (though he was needed to write a plethora of novels in a short time).
There's plenty of humour sliced with some unpleasant horror that makes this feel more like a definitive retelling of the popular Fourth Doctor serial.
Fishers new version of the part gophic/part Sci-Fi instalment in the series arc quest for the Key to Time arc greatly extends much of the character's backstory compared to Dick's original slim offering (though he was needed to write a plethora of novels in a short time).
There's plenty of humour sliced with some unpleasant horror that makes this feel more like a definitive retelling of the popular Fourth Doctor serial.
July 30, 2022
This was a one Day wonder I read it in 4hours I am Mad at The BBC this book is NOT by David Fisher he died in 2018 its based on the script and written by his son Nick Fisher but only in very small print on inside is that said. No credit at all.
This completely different from the earlier Terrance Dicks version of same book. Load more details on all missing pages it is dark and scary it's one best stories in The Key to Time season broadcast in 1978
This completely different from the earlier Terrance Dicks version of same book. Load more details on all missing pages it is dark and scary it's one best stories in The Key to Time season broadcast in 1978
March 21, 2023
How’s this for a niche bit of Doctor Who memorabilia: The Stones Of Blood was novelised in the 70s by stalwart noveliser Terrance Dicks, but it was one of his quicker and less notable books, so decades later the original author was asked to rewrite it for audio. Now here is that version again, enjoying a second incarnation in print.
David Fisher does a great job of capturing the creepy, funny vibe of the story, which finds the Fourth Doctor and Romana - still hunting for pieces of the Key To Time - battling murderous druids, blood-sucking stones and an ancient goddess, before the action moves onto a spaceship for a farcical courtroom drama. The shift in tone is as awkward as it always was, and the spaceship stuff just isn’t as good as the grisly stuff with the stones, but that’s the original story for you.
Fisher adds some memorable set pieces embellishing minor characters and bits of plot, in particular improving a weird cliffhanger where Romana encounters the Doctor’s doppelgänger (which we don’t see on screen) and allowing a bit more time to celebrate the delightful supporting character of Professor Emilia Rumford. The whole thing bounces along in good humour, lightening some actually quite horrible scenes on the moors. Tones do clash a bit, but that’s The Stones Of Blood for you.
3.5
David Fisher does a great job of capturing the creepy, funny vibe of the story, which finds the Fourth Doctor and Romana - still hunting for pieces of the Key To Time - battling murderous druids, blood-sucking stones and an ancient goddess, before the action moves onto a spaceship for a farcical courtroom drama. The shift in tone is as awkward as it always was, and the spaceship stuff just isn’t as good as the grisly stuff with the stones, but that’s the original story for you.
Fisher adds some memorable set pieces embellishing minor characters and bits of plot, in particular improving a weird cliffhanger where Romana encounters the Doctor’s doppelgänger (which we don’t see on screen) and allowing a bit more time to celebrate the delightful supporting character of Professor Emilia Rumford. The whole thing bounces along in good humour, lightening some actually quite horrible scenes on the moors. Tones do clash a bit, but that’s The Stones Of Blood for you.
3.5
July 18, 2022
A mysterious stone circle in southern England may hide the secret to the third segment of the Key to Time.
'The Stones of Blood' is a fun story and Fisher's novelisation captures the sheer enjoyment of the adventure.
'The Stones of Blood' is a fun story and Fisher's novelisation captures the sheer enjoyment of the adventure.
August 7, 2022
Stays close to the original plot (from what I can remember) but adds a few little details to some, though not much, depth.
Overall an enjoyable and light novelisation, enough to deserve my usual rating of 4/5.
Overall an enjoyable and light novelisation, enough to deserve my usual rating of 4/5.
November 20, 2024
Another winner. Well-written, well-paced, easy to read. Don't get me wrong; I love me a 70s Target novelization, but this idea of having the original author build it out and expand it a little was very effective. I'm looking forward to the next one.
July 22, 2022
As we approach the 60th anniversary of the television programme Doctor Who (next year), I got to thinking about why this particular series, out of all of the television series made, has endured over the years, with some noticeable gaps in time, admittedly.
For me it is perhaps the point that through the Doctor we can tell any story, from Space Opera to historical drama, from mystery to adventure to horror and everything in-between. Though the cast may change (another genius idea!) the range of stories keep things relatively fresh. And that not knowing what the next story may be keeps the viewer’s attention for the next one, of course!
With this in mind, I got to thinking what my favourite type of Doctor Who story may be. Certainly when I was little (and yes, I have been watching that long!) it was the Space stories. But the ones that seem to have endured most for me over the last 50-or-so years are the horror stories.
Low budget and cardboard-sceneried they may be, but there is something about the Doctor (a person of science) creeping around in the dark, dealing with things that are decidedly non-scientific that appeals to me.
And so I picked this one up with interest. It is a reissuing of a novelisation of the 100th story of the series, first transmitted October – November 1978. This is a novelisation based upon the original script and an Audiobook version written by the original writer, although there was also a novelisation published in 1980 under the name of other-legendary Doctor Who novelist, Terrance Dicks.
The idea of these novels originally was to provide something that could be read over and over for those fans who had seen the television series and wanted a reminder. In those days, of course, there were no recordings of the programme that you could buy and repeats of the television series were infrequent, which made these books the main way to keep an interest in the Doctor.
It’s a story based around the fictional Boscombe Moor, Cornwall, a place of ancient English folklore, standing stones, witches and blood sacrifices that makes me wonder whether such a story would be transmissible for family viewing these days. (But, I hasten to add, that like the television series, the novel is not graphic in these details.)
Without giving too much away, this Hammer Horror-esque beginning becomes something much more science-fictional at the end. There are strange silicon-based aliens, robot authorities and hyperspace to contend with, which makes it an unusual mixture of folk horror and science fiction. I liked it.
The big advantage of the novelisation is that you can go beyond the limits of a 25-minute television programme shown at peak family time and fill in details, which the writer does but not at the expense of the plot. It is clear that the writer has done his background research to give a little depth.
I guess that some readers may be wondering if this version of the story is any different to the Terrance Dicks novelisation? Well, there’s a lively introduction by the author David Fisher’s son, explaining what his Dad was like and what his father’s thoughts on Doctor Who were, and an interesting Afterword that explains to the reader how this version of the novelisation came about. The book itself is about a third longer than the original Dicks version and fills in background details and builds the characterisation to give a fuller picture of the story. (Having had a look at my Dicks version of the story, I can say that the Dicks version stays mainly to the script dialogue.)
Whichever version you read, the story’s straightforward, and even in the longer version is told with an impressive minimum of fuss and directness that makes me think we should have more of this these days. At about 200 pages, it’s a book read in an afternoon and great fun. This one does feel like a Tom Baker Doctor story, with Romana and K9 alongside too. The “Tom Baker Doctor” always has an impish quality that makes me feel that although things are bad and dangerous, you will be safe with him by your side. The prose here reflects that. I very much felt that it was Tom Baker in the role here.
It has been a while since I’ve seen the original TV production, but the fact that this book made me want to watch it again can only be a good thing. (These stories were originally written for young readers who did not have the luxury of repeats or recordings to look back on.)
The BBC are reissuing more of these on the run-up to next year, including Fisher’s other novel from the Tom Baker era, The Androids of Tara. These are great fun, and refreshingly short. I look forward to reading more.
For me it is perhaps the point that through the Doctor we can tell any story, from Space Opera to historical drama, from mystery to adventure to horror and everything in-between. Though the cast may change (another genius idea!) the range of stories keep things relatively fresh. And that not knowing what the next story may be keeps the viewer’s attention for the next one, of course!
With this in mind, I got to thinking what my favourite type of Doctor Who story may be. Certainly when I was little (and yes, I have been watching that long!) it was the Space stories. But the ones that seem to have endured most for me over the last 50-or-so years are the horror stories.
Low budget and cardboard-sceneried they may be, but there is something about the Doctor (a person of science) creeping around in the dark, dealing with things that are decidedly non-scientific that appeals to me.
And so I picked this one up with interest. It is a reissuing of a novelisation of the 100th story of the series, first transmitted October – November 1978. This is a novelisation based upon the original script and an Audiobook version written by the original writer, although there was also a novelisation published in 1980 under the name of other-legendary Doctor Who novelist, Terrance Dicks.
The idea of these novels originally was to provide something that could be read over and over for those fans who had seen the television series and wanted a reminder. In those days, of course, there were no recordings of the programme that you could buy and repeats of the television series were infrequent, which made these books the main way to keep an interest in the Doctor.
It’s a story based around the fictional Boscombe Moor, Cornwall, a place of ancient English folklore, standing stones, witches and blood sacrifices that makes me wonder whether such a story would be transmissible for family viewing these days. (But, I hasten to add, that like the television series, the novel is not graphic in these details.)
Without giving too much away, this Hammer Horror-esque beginning becomes something much more science-fictional at the end. There are strange silicon-based aliens, robot authorities and hyperspace to contend with, which makes it an unusual mixture of folk horror and science fiction. I liked it.
The big advantage of the novelisation is that you can go beyond the limits of a 25-minute television programme shown at peak family time and fill in details, which the writer does but not at the expense of the plot. It is clear that the writer has done his background research to give a little depth.
I guess that some readers may be wondering if this version of the story is any different to the Terrance Dicks novelisation? Well, there’s a lively introduction by the author David Fisher’s son, explaining what his Dad was like and what his father’s thoughts on Doctor Who were, and an interesting Afterword that explains to the reader how this version of the novelisation came about. The book itself is about a third longer than the original Dicks version and fills in background details and builds the characterisation to give a fuller picture of the story. (Having had a look at my Dicks version of the story, I can say that the Dicks version stays mainly to the script dialogue.)
Whichever version you read, the story’s straightforward, and even in the longer version is told with an impressive minimum of fuss and directness that makes me think we should have more of this these days. At about 200 pages, it’s a book read in an afternoon and great fun. This one does feel like a Tom Baker Doctor story, with Romana and K9 alongside too. The “Tom Baker Doctor” always has an impish quality that makes me feel that although things are bad and dangerous, you will be safe with him by your side. The prose here reflects that. I very much felt that it was Tom Baker in the role here.
It has been a while since I’ve seen the original TV production, but the fact that this book made me want to watch it again can only be a good thing. (These stories were originally written for young readers who did not have the luxury of repeats or recordings to look back on.)
The BBC are reissuing more of these on the run-up to next year, including Fisher’s other novel from the Tom Baker era, The Androids of Tara. These are great fun, and refreshingly short. I look forward to reading more.
November 21, 2022
David Fisher has a go at novelizing his own TV story (previously novelized by Terrance Dicks), and makes a very decent job of it. The Doctor, Romana and K9 arrive on Earth looking for the third segment to the Key to Time and - as ever - stumble into trouble. This time it's living stones that live off blood. Fast paced and fun.
February 24, 2024
Before proceeding with this review, it's worth clarifying The Stones of Blood is a Doctor Who story I've had no prior experience with. A lot of the Target novelizations I've read up to now are for episodes I’ve seen time and time again, so there's a notable amount of prior interpretation I was able to carry over into my readings of those novels. In Stones of Blood's case though, this is a Classic-Who story from Tom Baker's fifth season on the show; one in which I've never seen before. These types of situations always excite me because it allows me to really work off the novelizations descriptions and writing to construct the story.
Originally airing in 1978, The Stones of Blood was a four-part story which was released weekly from the 28th of October to 18th of November. The novelization, much like it's the original script was written by David Fisher. Fisher was known for his contributions as screenwriter to some key episodes from Season 16, 17 and 18 of the long running Sci-Fi show. The novelization was part of a batch of Target books released back in September 2022.
The narrative of The Stones of Blood follows the 4th incarnation of The Doctor and his current companion Romana a fellow Time Lord from Galifrey. The running arch of the season this story is featured in follows the duo's quest to collect pieces of the Key to Time for the White Guardian. At this point in the story, they have already collected two prior pieces and their tracking device locates the third piece in Cornwall in the 1970's. The TARDIS lands in Boscombe Moor in which The Doctor comes to meet archeologist Professor Amelia Rumford and her colleague Vivien Fey. It's through them The Doctor comes to learn about mysterious Nine Travellers standing stones and sinister Druid cult which worships a deity known as Cailleach. As the Doctor and Romana attempt to unravel the local mysteries behind the stones and the local cult, a far deadlier threat stalks the moors in search of blood and the pair and their new friends have to act quick if they to are to survive.
As far as stories go, I really enjoyed the structure and progression of The Stones of Blood. It utilizes its setup in a very clever fashion by keeping the reader embedded in the mystery being set up. There's a lot of horror-esque inspiration in the story which helps give it all the necessary beats when it comes to tension and build up. Despite feeling like a natural fit in a horror series, the story is well constructed to accommodate all the typical Sci-Fi flair that is accustomed to the world of Doctor Who. It's worth recognizing too that the story does juggle a fair few plot beats but it does it in a way that complements each other cohesively, it's a really tight narrative on all accounts.
What also makes this book work on top of the smartly constructed narrative is its tone and pacing. This feels like a quintessential 4th Doctor story on all fronts because it balances out the gothic-horror vibe with The Doctor's levity and humor. The 4th Doctor is known for his eccentric and carefree approach to the calamities he finds himself in and it's his quick wit that helps keep the story progressing at a great pace and in a way that engages the reader thoroughly from beginning to end.
The Stones of Blood is a great story on nearly every front. It constructs a captivating story with a really in-depth mystery to support it. Its plot beats are complemented with a wonderfully witty collection of dialogue and writing behind its characters and sequences. If the book is this good, I am rather excited to sit down one day and watch the original episodes.
Originally airing in 1978, The Stones of Blood was a four-part story which was released weekly from the 28th of October to 18th of November. The novelization, much like it's the original script was written by David Fisher. Fisher was known for his contributions as screenwriter to some key episodes from Season 16, 17 and 18 of the long running Sci-Fi show. The novelization was part of a batch of Target books released back in September 2022.
The narrative of The Stones of Blood follows the 4th incarnation of The Doctor and his current companion Romana a fellow Time Lord from Galifrey. The running arch of the season this story is featured in follows the duo's quest to collect pieces of the Key to Time for the White Guardian. At this point in the story, they have already collected two prior pieces and their tracking device locates the third piece in Cornwall in the 1970's. The TARDIS lands in Boscombe Moor in which The Doctor comes to meet archeologist Professor Amelia Rumford and her colleague Vivien Fey. It's through them The Doctor comes to learn about mysterious Nine Travellers standing stones and sinister Druid cult which worships a deity known as Cailleach. As the Doctor and Romana attempt to unravel the local mysteries behind the stones and the local cult, a far deadlier threat stalks the moors in search of blood and the pair and their new friends have to act quick if they to are to survive.
As far as stories go, I really enjoyed the structure and progression of The Stones of Blood. It utilizes its setup in a very clever fashion by keeping the reader embedded in the mystery being set up. There's a lot of horror-esque inspiration in the story which helps give it all the necessary beats when it comes to tension and build up. Despite feeling like a natural fit in a horror series, the story is well constructed to accommodate all the typical Sci-Fi flair that is accustomed to the world of Doctor Who. It's worth recognizing too that the story does juggle a fair few plot beats but it does it in a way that complements each other cohesively, it's a really tight narrative on all accounts.
What also makes this book work on top of the smartly constructed narrative is its tone and pacing. This feels like a quintessential 4th Doctor story on all fronts because it balances out the gothic-horror vibe with The Doctor's levity and humor. The 4th Doctor is known for his eccentric and carefree approach to the calamities he finds himself in and it's his quick wit that helps keep the story progressing at a great pace and in a way that engages the reader thoroughly from beginning to end.
The Stones of Blood is a great story on nearly every front. It constructs a captivating story with a really in-depth mystery to support it. Its plot beats are complemented with a wonderfully witty collection of dialogue and writing behind its characters and sequences. If the book is this good, I am rather excited to sit down one day and watch the original episodes.
July 17, 2022
I haven't enjoyed David Fisher's books very much so far, so I expected this one to be a chore. To my astonishment it was anything but. There are quite a lot of added scenes, and I would expect the pace to be a lot slower than either the TV version or the Terrance Dicks book. It did take me a bit longer to read this version, but only because there was more of it, not through any reluctance to read it.
There were a couple of things I didn't like. Right at the beginning, after his son's introduction telling us that David Fisher's favourite part of writing was the research, we find rabbits on the site of the nine (or six or seven) travellers, 4000 years ago. There is no mention of rabbits in Britain in any document until after the Norman conquest of 1066. Then again, in the Doctor Who universe, we had Sarah Jane peeling potatoes in medieval England centuries before they were brought over.
My other gripe is about bullfighting. On TV and in the earler book it's a passing reference, and a frivolous one, but here the Doctor seems to be a fan of matadors. I found this very jarring as, I feel certain, the Doctor would take the side of the bull.
One other, very minor, complaint I wouldn't have seen had I not been looking for it: the tautology of "Cornish fougou" (because fougous are, by definition Cornish) is more obvious, to me at least, because the story is now set in Cornwall, whereas its location was left vague in the other versions.
The trivial nature of these complaints should give an idea of how much I enjoyed it. If not, a score of 3.75, rounded up to 4, should help.
There were a couple of things I didn't like. Right at the beginning, after his son's introduction telling us that David Fisher's favourite part of writing was the research, we find rabbits on the site of the nine (or six or seven) travellers, 4000 years ago. There is no mention of rabbits in Britain in any document until after the Norman conquest of 1066. Then again, in the Doctor Who universe, we had Sarah Jane peeling potatoes in medieval England centuries before they were brought over.
My other gripe is about bullfighting. On TV and in the earler book it's a passing reference, and a frivolous one, but here the Doctor seems to be a fan of matadors. I found this very jarring as, I feel certain, the Doctor would take the side of the bull.
One other, very minor, complaint I wouldn't have seen had I not been looking for it: the tautology of "Cornish fougou" (because fougous are, by definition Cornish) is more obvious, to me at least, because the story is now set in Cornwall, whereas its location was left vague in the other versions.
The trivial nature of these complaints should give an idea of how much I enjoyed it. If not, a score of 3.75, rounded up to 4, should help.
December 25, 2025
This is one of my favourite story’s as I have a love of archaeology. Amelia Rumford is a brilliant character who was expertly played by Beatrix Lehmann on screen. And Stone Circles are such fascinating things. I love how the myths and history surrounding them were tied in with aliens. It would be great to have an aftermath story where Prof Rumford has to explain to the authorities how a heritage listed site was rearranged overnight without evidence of heavy machinery being used.
There is noticeable variation in the dialogue and actions from the TV episodes. A lot I think is due to the change to audible which this version was original written for. It requires a certain level of over explaining. But this is more than adequately offset by much more detailed descriptions of everything, demonstrating David’s love of research. And it was able to be included due to the new Targets not being as constrained by page count.
Comparison with the original Terrance Dicks version.
It’s difficult to make a direct comparison between the 2 books as the Fisher version is 50% longer, but telling the same story. Both are excellent, but for different reasons. The Fisher has a much more researched and detailed background. But it devolves into farce in too many expanded scenes for my liking. The TV story has a certain amount of comedic style, but he’s taken it too far in the book. So for that reason my money is on the Dicks version as the better, but only marginally.
There is noticeable variation in the dialogue and actions from the TV episodes. A lot I think is due to the change to audible which this version was original written for. It requires a certain level of over explaining. But this is more than adequately offset by much more detailed descriptions of everything, demonstrating David’s love of research. And it was able to be included due to the new Targets not being as constrained by page count.
Comparison with the original Terrance Dicks version.
It’s difficult to make a direct comparison between the 2 books as the Fisher version is 50% longer, but telling the same story. Both are excellent, but for different reasons. The Fisher has a much more researched and detailed background. But it devolves into farce in too many expanded scenes for my liking. The TV story has a certain amount of comedic style, but he’s taken it too far in the book. So for that reason my money is on the Dicks version as the better, but only marginally.
October 1, 2023
https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-stone-of-blood-by-katrin-thier-and-david-fisher-and-terrance-dicks/
David Fisher, who wrote the original TV story The Stones of Blood, has now converted it not to a print novel but to audiobook format, read with great gusto by Susan Engel (who played the villain of the piece on screen) with John Leeson doing K9's lines. I had been looking forward to this with hopeful enthusiasm, as Fisher's novelisations of his other two stories are among the best of the Target range.
I am very glad to say that I was not disappointed. The audio is about twice as long as the original series (four hour-long CDs), and Fisher has bulked out the material with lots more character background and atmosphere than was possible on screen - the full story of the campers gruesomely slain by the Ogri, for example, and various brazen but humorous infodumps. There are lots of decent sound effects as well. Very highly recommended.
The print version is topped and tailed by some lovely personal reminiscences about Fisher by his son Nick Fisher and by the BBC Audio commissioning editor Michael Stevens. It remains a good read.
David Fisher, who wrote the original TV story The Stones of Blood, has now converted it not to a print novel but to audiobook format, read with great gusto by Susan Engel (who played the villain of the piece on screen) with John Leeson doing K9's lines. I had been looking forward to this with hopeful enthusiasm, as Fisher's novelisations of his other two stories are among the best of the Target range.
I am very glad to say that I was not disappointed. The audio is about twice as long as the original series (four hour-long CDs), and Fisher has bulked out the material with lots more character background and atmosphere than was possible on screen - the full story of the campers gruesomely slain by the Ogri, for example, and various brazen but humorous infodumps. There are lots of decent sound effects as well. Very highly recommended.
The print version is topped and tailed by some lovely personal reminiscences about Fisher by his son Nick Fisher and by the BBC Audio commissioning editor Michael Stevens. It remains a good read.
August 18, 2022
The effects are better than on TV.
Fun and breezy novelisation. Stays very close to the script. It's been many, many years since I read the Terrance Dicks version, but a glance of my bookshelf indicates that it would have been one of the bare bones adaptations he motored through in the later years.
The small print on the inside cover confirms this is written by Nick Fisher (David's son). From David Fisher's Audio Go version in 2011.
Slight spoilers -
In the book itself, there are some additional fun character notes and tiny bits of additional world building. Elements beyond the ability of the show to realise in 1978 have been slotted in nicely. Massive tunnels behind secret doors impressive alien bodies etc.But the tattier elements of the tv show - the Megara, the ship in Hyperspace and Tom Baker in a Barristers wig are less jarring. The first half of the story has elements of horror and these have been expanded well. The tone is consistent and the pace is still good.
I paced myself, but you could easily zoom through this in one go over a few hours.
Put the kettle on, butter a hot crumpet and enjoy a fun romp.
Fun and breezy novelisation. Stays very close to the script. It's been many, many years since I read the Terrance Dicks version, but a glance of my bookshelf indicates that it would have been one of the bare bones adaptations he motored through in the later years.
The small print on the inside cover confirms this is written by Nick Fisher (David's son). From David Fisher's Audio Go version in 2011.
Slight spoilers -
In the book itself, there are some additional fun character notes and tiny bits of additional world building. Elements beyond the ability of the show to realise in 1978 have been slotted in nicely. Massive tunnels behind secret doors impressive alien bodies etc.But the tattier elements of the tv show - the Megara, the ship in Hyperspace and Tom Baker in a Barristers wig are less jarring. The first half of the story has elements of horror and these have been expanded well. The tone is consistent and the pace is still good.
I paced myself, but you could easily zoom through this in one go over a few hours.
Put the kettle on, butter a hot crumpet and enjoy a fun romp.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2023
I like The Stones of Blood as a TV story and was always slightly disappointed with Terrance Dicks' novelisation of the story. It's a thin old book. So, it is nice to be able to read David Fisher's own novelisation of the story.
Fisher wrote the original itself and there's a long quote from him in the Afterword where he explains how it all came together for TV.
This is a lovely novelisation. It gives us a real flavour of the story. Pads out a few bits and pieces. It also reminds us that Professor Amelia Rumford is one of the series great guest characters. A woman I wish we'd seen pop up again. Perhaps Big Finish can slot her in somewhere.
Not much more I can say.
It's fun. Has nice forward by Nick Fisher, David's son. An afterword, written by Michael Stevens explaining how they came to publish a new version of this story - it first arrived as an audiobook, which I will listen to at some point.
Read and enjoy. Then go watch the whole Key to Time Season. It's great. Even when it is very, very silly.
Fisher wrote the original itself and there's a long quote from him in the Afterword where he explains how it all came together for TV.
This is a lovely novelisation. It gives us a real flavour of the story. Pads out a few bits and pieces. It also reminds us that Professor Amelia Rumford is one of the series great guest characters. A woman I wish we'd seen pop up again. Perhaps Big Finish can slot her in somewhere.
Not much more I can say.
It's fun. Has nice forward by Nick Fisher, David's son. An afterword, written by Michael Stevens explaining how they came to publish a new version of this story - it first arrived as an audiobook, which I will listen to at some point.
Read and enjoy. Then go watch the whole Key to Time Season. It's great. Even when it is very, very silly.
January 4, 2025
I'm delighted that the Doctor Who 'Target' Novels are back in print, and new work being published. In the pre-internet, pre-DVD days these were often the only way of enjoying classic Who (when repeats were very rare on TV).
The special thing about this title is that its a novelisation by the original writer, and as this is one of my favourite Baker-era stories, I was keen to read and find out more about some of the characters. I also think the story is good for illustrating how the familiar and cosy can be posed against sci-fi horror - a blend that has always worked well in Doctor Who.
We do learn some more, Professor Rumford and Vivien Fay both went to Somerville College, Oxford for example. We also get the back story to the campers - and this classic scene of their demise retains its horror. I was pleased sausage sandwiches remain a favourite of the Professor. However, fans will probably still be curious about the characters in this story - and what might have happened next!
So, and entertaining read, but leaving you still wanting more - perfect!
The special thing about this title is that its a novelisation by the original writer, and as this is one of my favourite Baker-era stories, I was keen to read and find out more about some of the characters. I also think the story is good for illustrating how the familiar and cosy can be posed against sci-fi horror - a blend that has always worked well in Doctor Who.
We do learn some more, Professor Rumford and Vivien Fay both went to Somerville College, Oxford for example. We also get the back story to the campers - and this classic scene of their demise retains its horror. I was pleased sausage sandwiches remain a favourite of the Professor. However, fans will probably still be curious about the characters in this story - and what might have happened next!
So, and entertaining read, but leaving you still wanting more - perfect!
August 13, 2025
Similar to The Androids of Tara, this is a novelization of the 4th Doctor serial of the same name (not the original novelization, the more recent one). Similar to AoT, I enjoyed it overall - more, in fact, than I'd probably have enjoyed the episode if I watched it, since it's pretty clear by now that I'm really not fond of OldWho bar a few exceptions. The writing is witty, the characters are enjoyable, and it's bonkers enough to be a Doctor Who story, but not so bonkers that I was uninvested.
Anyway, the 4th Doctor and Romana (the original), plus K-9, go to Earth to recover the next component to the Key to Time, ending up in what I assume is 1970s Britain (in as much that's when the episode was aired). There's a stone circle, some crazy druids, archeologists, rock monsters, floating orbs that are galactic police officers, and so on. I'm not going to do a step-by-step recount of the plot, and TBH, the plot itself didn't leave much of an impact on me, but rather, it's the moment-to-moment interactions that are fun, plus the writing as a whole.
So, yeah. Fun read.
Anyway, the 4th Doctor and Romana (the original), plus K-9, go to Earth to recover the next component to the Key to Time, ending up in what I assume is 1970s Britain (in as much that's when the episode was aired). There's a stone circle, some crazy druids, archeologists, rock monsters, floating orbs that are galactic police officers, and so on. I'm not going to do a step-by-step recount of the plot, and TBH, the plot itself didn't leave much of an impact on me, but rather, it's the moment-to-moment interactions that are fun, plus the writing as a whole.
So, yeah. Fun read.
February 5, 2023
The doctor is delighted when his quest for the key to time leads him to his favorite planet, Earth.
I found this an enjoyable book to read. It was a quick paced 190 page book. The plot was a little darker in places than I had expected it to be not something I minded just an observation. The dialogue between the characters made me smile,laugh and at times roll my eyes. I felt like I could picture the book playing out in my mind as I read which was fun and I enjoyed that k9 was also so present in this story.
As the book is titled the stones David Fisher I was expecting this book to have been written by him. but on reading the foreword you find out it is written by his son Nick Fisher and based on David fishers screenplay.
I found this an enjoyable book to read. It was a quick paced 190 page book. The plot was a little darker in places than I had expected it to be not something I minded just an observation. The dialogue between the characters made me smile,laugh and at times roll my eyes. I felt like I could picture the book playing out in my mind as I read which was fun and I enjoyed that k9 was also so present in this story.
As the book is titled the stones David Fisher I was expecting this book to have been written by him. but on reading the foreword you find out it is written by his son Nick Fisher and based on David fishers screenplay.
February 17, 2024
Boooo worst Target adaptation I've read ever. Not written by David Fisher but by his son Nick, The Stones of Blood is at best mediocre and at worst borderline unreadable due to Nick Fishers insufferable writing style.
He actively refuses to refer to a character the same way twice, and uses ridiculous language to refer to people instead. It's like he was playing Just A Minute and was avoiding repetition. It's absolutely infuriating.
This took me a week to get through because I had to hack at it in such small chunks. Ridiculous.
He actively refuses to refer to a character the same way twice, and uses ridiculous language to refer to people instead. It's like he was playing Just A Minute and was avoiding repetition. It's absolutely infuriating.
This took me a week to get through because I had to hack at it in such small chunks. Ridiculous.
September 18, 2022
VERY different from the slim transcript of the original Terrance Dicks adaptation. This doesn't quite reach the sublime heights of Fisher's adaptations of "The Creature From the Pit" or "The Leisure Hive", but it does offer lots of extra development and enhancement completely lacking in Dicks' workman-like product. If anything, I feel like Fisher should have let loose even more with this adaptation...but I thoroughly enjoyed the end result.
May 3, 2023
A fabulous read ... bringing back so many happy memories of watching the television version albeit not originally but later on VHS! I can't tell too well how much this differs from the Terrance Dicks novel as it's been about 30 years since I last read that but this latest version by the original writer seems more filled out.A cracking story with some great fun characters and creations including the scary Ogri....top notch Doctor Who!!
December 29, 2024
David Fisher expands his own screenplay nicely, adding some great depth and motivation to the characters. However, it doesn’t feel like an improvement on Dicks’s retelling, just an expansion. It is a lot more fun, but I don’t know if I’d call it necessary.
December 29, 2025
4.5/5
I have a few quibbles but for the most part I loved this. A fun adaptation of one of my favourite Who stories that welcomely fleshes out a lot of characters that I'm already very fond of.
I have a few quibbles but for the most part I loved this. A fun adaptation of one of my favourite Who stories that welcomely fleshes out a lot of characters that I'm already very fond of.
July 16, 2022
Very enjoyable, appears to stick very closely to TV version. A story I gave always enjoyed watching, so it was a great pleasure to read thus version.
April 20, 2023
An excellent adaption of the TV adventure!
July 20, 2023
doctor who goes to court because if he doesnt he will be executed for opening the wrong door. i love doctor who, 7/10
January 25, 2024
This adaptation was fantastic. I love how attached I felt to the side characters, and I loved the comedic Tom Baker moments in a written format.
September 1, 2024
the second bit lost momentum, but it was an enjoyable read overall.
April 18, 2025
Fun romp of an episode, as what starts as an eerie mystery goes weird and cosmic, as we travel from Stonehenge to hyperspace.
Professor Rutherford is one of my favorite 'should have been a companion' characters, the monsters are an odd mix of creepy and goofy, and the Tardis crew are well written and all three get stuff to do.
How come we've never seen the return of the Justice Machines?
Professor Rutherford is one of my favorite 'should have been a companion' characters, the monsters are an odd mix of creepy and goofy, and the Tardis crew are well written and all three get stuff to do.
How come we've never seen the return of the Justice Machines?
March 12, 2023
I've always loved this story, with its mix of Gothic and high concept Sci Fi. This is a totally new version of the book, based on the author's adaptation of his story for audio, expanding on dear old Terrence's version. Fisher added an interesting new opening scene, showing when our villain arrived, but failed to capture the wonderful interactions between Emilia and Vivien. It did make the most of Miss Fay's acid tongue and cruelty but lost the odd flashes of kindness and genuine fondness for her mad houseguest. The scenes with the Megara were much more captivating - I've always found the TV scenes a little flat.
I'll have to read the two versions one after the other another day...
I'll have to read the two versions one after the other another day...
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